Device for transmitting and receiving a wireless radio signal, corresponding method and program

Abstract

A device for transmitting/receiving a wireless radio signal. Such a device includes: a first interface for transmitting/receiving a radio signal according to a first transmission technology; a second interface for transmitting/receiving a radio signal according to a second transmission technology; and an adaptation stage (such as a chip), which extracts data from signals coming from the first interface and/or the second interface.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for conducting a transaction between a communication terminal and a payment terminal, the method comprising:
 fixing a communication adapting device on a payment terminal; 
 receiving by a first communication interface of the communication adapting device from an antenna of the payment terminal a first signal transmitted by the payment terminal and addressed to the communication terminal, wherein the first signal has a first signal communication format and is transmitted according to a first transmission protocol and wherein the first signal communication format is a near-field communication (NFC) format and the first transmission protocol is a NFC transmission protocol; 
 extracting energy from the first signal by an electrical power supply unit of the communication adapting device coupled to the first communication interface; 
 supplying power to the communication adapting device by the electrical power supply unit from the extracted energy, wherein the communication adapting device is fixed in a place on the payment terminal so that the extracted energy fully powers the communication adapting device; 
 converting by the first communication interface the first signal into a second signal having a second signal communication format; and 
 transmitting the second signal to the communication terminal by a second communication interface of the communication adapting device, wherein the second signal is transmitted according to a second transmission protocol. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second interface is a Bluetooth interface. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extracted energy has a shape of an alternating current, the method further comprising converting the alternating current into a direct current by the electrical power supply unit and supplying the direct current to power the communication adapting device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving by the second communication interface a third signal transmitted by the communication terminal and addressed to the payment terminal, wherein the third signal has the second signal communication format and is transmitted according to the second transmission protocol; 
 converting by the second communication interface the third signal into a fourth signal having the first signal communication format; and 
 transmitting the fourth signal to the antenna by a first communication interface, wherein the fourth signal has the first signal communication format and is transmitted according to the first transmission protocol. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication adapting device is removably fixed on the payment terminal. 
     
     
       6. A payment terminal comprising:
 an antenna; and 
 a communication adapting device fixed on the payment terminal, the communication adapting device comprising: 
 a first communication interface coupled to the antenna and configured to receive from the antenna a first signal transmitted by the payment terminal and addressed to a communication terminal, wherein the first signal has a first signal communication format and is transmitted according to a first transmission protocol and wherein the first signal communication format is a near-field communication (NFC) format and the first transmission protocol is a NFC transmission protocol; 
 an electrical power supply unit coupled to the first communication interface and configured to extract energy from the first signal and to supply the extracted energy to the communication adapting device when the first communication interface receives the first signal, wherein the communication adapting device is fixed in a place on the payment terminal so that the extracted energy fully powers the communication adapting device; 
 an adaptation unit configured to convert the first signal into a second signal having a second signal communication format; and 
 a second communication interface configured to transmit the second signal to the communication terminal, wherein the second signal is transmitted according to a second transmission protocol. 
 
     
     
       7. The payment terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the second interface is a Bluetooth interface. 
     
     
       8. The payment terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the extracted energy has a shape of an alternating current, the electrical power supply unit further comprising an alternating current to direct current converter configured to convert the alternating current into a direct current and to supply the direct current to power the communication adapting device. 
     
     
       9. The payment terminal of  claim 6 , further wherein:
 the second communication interface is configured to receive a third signal transmitted by the communication terminal and addressed to the payment terminal, wherein the third signal has the second signal communication format and is transmitted according to the second transmission protocol; 
 the communication adapting device comprises a microcontroller configured to convert the third signal into a fourth signal having the first signal communication format, wherein the fourth signal has the first signal communication format and is transmitted according to the first transmission protocol; and 
 the first communication interface is configured to transmit the fourth signal to the antenna of the payment terminal. 
 
     
     
       10. The payment terminal of  claim 9 , wherein the microcontroller is powered by the electrical power supply unit. 
     
     
       11. The payment terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the communication adapting device is removably fixed on the payment terminal. 
     
     
       12. The payment terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the communication adapting device comprises a coiled antenna that is coupled to antenna of the payment terminal. 
     
     
       13. The payment terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the communication adapting device has a shape of a chip, the coiled antenna being arranged along a rim of the chip.